It takes a village: Entomopathogenic nematode community structure and conservation biological control in florida (U.S.) orchards

Abstract

Root weevils in Florida comprise several species, Diaprepes abbreviatus L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Pachnaeus litus Schoenherr (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Pachnaeus opalus Schoenherr (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Artipus floridanus Horn (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Myllocerus undecimpustulatus Faust (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Naupactus godmani (Crotch) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) being those which are commonly encountered in citrus orchards. The first two of these species are the most economically important arthropod pests of citrus other than Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), which vectors the devastating disease huanglongbing, Candidus liberobacter asiaticus Jagoueix (Rhizobiales: Rhizobiaceae) (Duncan, McCoy, Stansly, Graham, & Mizell, 2001; McCoy, 1999). We focus here on the most widely studied of these weevils, D. abbreviatus (commonly called Diaprepes root weevil); however, all of the species have similar life cycles, host plant interactions, and susceptibility to entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs).